If the huge frame rate drops don’t put you off while playing Antares, the repetitive enemy designs and overall boring gameplay loop will. There is some hidden potential for a good game in here, and some credit needs to be given to the fact that this has been developed by a single person, but considering its current massively underwhelming state, there’s no way I can recommend this to anyone.
I’ll admit I was pretty skeptical with the Switch port of Darksiders Genesis, based on the disappointing port of Darksiders 2 to the system. So I was pleasantly surprised by the successful port over to Switch, even though it is not perfect. It’s definitely worth playing, especially if you’ve never tried it before.
The Crowbar Collective knew exactly what needed to be done to improve on the original. Not only is this a great game for fans of the original, but this is a perfect new entry point into the franchise.
This one is a bit of a weird one for me. I would have never imagined that an anime-styled tactics game set in the French Revolution would ever be released, let alone work as a decent game in its own right. To my surprise, Banner of the Maid is a decent game, but not without its fair share of issues, be it its underwhelming user interface and occasionally limiting gameplay.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps not only managed to live up to the original game, but also expand on it in almost every way you can imagine. The new combat system, boss fights, story, music and world design all come together for an unforgettable experience that I would recommend to anyone.
Despite some shortcomings regarding the game’s length and how Nemesis is used in the opening hours, the Resident Evil 3 Remake is yet another excellent addition to the franchise and a perfect way to bring that classic back to the spotlight.
Overall, Resident Evil Resistance shows some promise with its fun and innovative mastermind gameplay, that brings something new to the genre. Unfortunately, the survivor’s gameplay is simply lacking.
Curious Expedition has some good ideas but most of them don’t quite land thanks to the overly repetitive gameplay that gets boring after a few short runs, as well as its terrible combat system. Hopefully the upcoming sequel can improve on these issues, if it ever comes out.
Gears Tactics has managed to capture the essence of the Gears franchise and move it into an entirely new genre. The fun and fast-paced tactics-based gameplay is perfectly mixed with all the hallmarks of the Gears series with very few downsides.
The Dyatlov Pass Incident might have been a fascinating story that could have inspired a superb horror game if fallen into the right hands, but Kholat misses the mark. The boring gameplay, graphical downgrades, poor framerate and complete lack of “horror” resulted in an unsatisfying experience.
Chimera Squad feels like an experimental game in the XCOM franchise, and that is very welcome. Although not every change and addition worked in here, I still appreciate how bold they have been with this particular smaller title.
The Switch version of The Persistence managed to exceed my expectations in every single way. Not only it’s a good proof that you can also port former VR games to a non-VR environment, but it’s also a fun horror-themed roguelike with great visuals and environmental design running pretty well on such underpowered hardware.
Ion Fury is a total blast, as it doesn’t try to be anything other than a fun, challenging shooter. Giving a game like this a deep story or any other moment that isn’t comprised of killing enemies or solving puzzles would have been a detriment to its great gameplay loop and overall game design.
The Switch port of Journey to the Savage Planet might have been a disappointing due to the severe amount of visual setbacks and a somewhat lackluster overall performance, but at the end of the day, it’s still a very playable and hilarious experience. If you can ignore the graphical hindrances in favor of the ability to play this game on-the-go, then this is an easy recommendation.
Getting XCOM 2 Collection running on the Switch is a technical achievement, however there were a number of cutbacks that needed to be made to make this happen. If you can live with some downgraded visuals and subpar performance, XCOM 2 Collection on the Switch is a must buy. Just make sure to keep it in handheld mode.
Right now, in its current state, Valorant is in a great spot for a free to play game. Sure, the lack of maps and grindy progression system can be off-putting, but the core gameplay here is phenomenal. A great twist on the Counter-Strike formula.
Invisible Inc. is one of my favourite stealth games in recent years. Its smart and unique blending of multiple genres provide a fun and challenging gameplay experience I would recommend to anyone. If you’re a fan of stealth, rogue-likes, and tactical turn-based combat, you can’t let Invisible, Inc. pass you by.
Two years ago, I fell in love with CrossCode. Playing this brand new port on the Switch just reminded me of why I loved that game so much back in the day, and to be fair, this might even be the superior version of this already pristine game.
Demon’s Tier + at its best is a decent enough twin stick roguelike to play, as it performs well enough, but doesn’t add anything new to the genre. Its overly repetitive gameplay, uninspired level designs, and lack of interesting mechanics makes it one I’m not going to return to.
As a whole, Death Stranding is an extremely captivating yet polarising experience. It’s an ambitious title that dares to do something different in a sea of safe bets and genre clones, and for the most part, it actually does succeed. However, those minor annoyances and long stretches where nothing happens can bring the experience down a notch for some players.